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LOPN Meetup: Ocean Plastics - Challenges and Solutions
- Patrice König
- Mar 26
- 2 min read
On March 20th, 2025, Ocean Community hosted the Lisbon Ocean Professional Network (LOPN) meetup titled “Ocean Plastics - Challenges and Solutions.” It was an evening of dialogue, awareness, and action towards addressing one of our time's most urgent environmental challenges.
The event at Ocean Community’s office in Lisbon gathered professionals, researchers, and innovators from the marine, sustainability, and entrepreneurial sectors. With over 23 million tonnes of plastic entering marine ecosystems annually, the urgency of coordinated, cross-sector action has never been more evident.
The evening commenced with a compelling keynote by Associate Professor Paula Sobral, a marine litter expert from Nova School of Science and Technology (FCT NOVA). She vividly recounted her personal experiences witnessing the devastating impact of plastics on marine wildlife and stressed the importance of scientific research in reversing this trend.
Subsequently, Gregory Delaune, founder of The Deep Blue Institute, highlighted in his presentation that collaboration across sectors is not merely desirable—it is absolutely essential if we are serious about tackling the plastics crisis. He showcased practical strategies for scalable solutions, emphasising the integration of innovation, science, and community involvement.
The panel discussion was moderated by Susanne Wedin-Schildt, founder of Ocean Community, co-founder of LOPN, and the evening's host. Audience engagement was notably high, with participants posing meaningful questions and actively contributing to the discussion.
Following the discussion, attendees enjoyed a lively networking session featuring healthy snacks and background music. The atmosphere was buzzing with exchanges that continued well beyond the official framework of the meetup.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to LOPN, our dear friends at QueensLab providing our Lisbon Office Space, the speakers, and all attendees for creating such an inspiring and impactful event. These gatherings are vital for mobilising our community around regenerative solutions, strengthening our network, and reinforcing our commitment to building a sustainable blue economy.
Ocean Community - Connect. Learn. Innovate.
Our panel speakers:
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